The Independent Commission for Aid Impact scrutinizes the spending of the UK’s £11.5 billion ($18.4 billion) overseas development assistance budget. The aid budget, which is the second largest after that of the United States, has been expanded to reach .71% of GDP and represents a genuine achievement for the current coalition government in difficult financial times.

A report just released by Transparency International says corruption is on the rise in South Asia and failing to tackle it will threaten the region's economic progress by deepening poverty and scaring off investors.

Wolfgang Duchatczek, courtesy of YouTubeThe former deputy governor of Austria's central bank and eight other defendants went on trial Monday for allegedly bribing officials in Azerbaijan and Syria to win banknote contracts.